Wednesday, April 17, 2002

Different Causes, Similar Tactics. Internet Used by Organizers of Israeli, Palestinian Rallies.

Washington Post Wednesday, April 17, 2002; Page B08

By Mary Beth Sheridan

Washington Post Staff WriterWednesday, April 17, 2002; Page B08

"The pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrations organized in Washington this week represent the emotional culmination of weeks of smaller rallies across the country, indications of how the violence in the Middle East has alarmed many Americans.

The proliferation of demonstrations reflects the strength of Jewish organizations and efforts by much smaller Muslim and Arab American groups to play a bigger role in U.S. politics. Adding to the mix is the power of the Internet, both to pull together rallies and to connect Americans with those suffering in the Middle East

by: Sheridan, Mary Beth. :

Different Causes, Similar Tactics. Internet Used by Organizers of Israeli, Palestinian Rallies.

In his new book, Lawrence Lessig warns of threats to innovation as the Internet becomes increasingly controlled by businesses, the technology they develop and the laws they push.

In his 1999 book, "Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace," Lessig warns of threats to free speech and privacy as the Internet becomes increasingly controlled by businesses, the technology they develop and the laws they push.

"The Future of Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World," published by Random House, is in many respects a sequel: Lessig argues that innovation is under threat by those same efforts.

One tendency Lessig worries about is the development of software techniques that would let Internet service providers prioritize — and perhaps charge more for — certain traffic over others.

"THE demand for uncovering family histories is proving almost as popular as sex on Internet hit lists, and likely to grow even greater as the 1901 census for England and Wales is published online today."